Kompany confident City can make mark in Champions League

City moved to within a win of a place in the last 16 of Europe’s elite competition with a comfortable 3-0 win at Villarreal on Wednesday night.

Their hopes of progress had already seemed like hingeing on the crunch away trip to Napoli in three weeks, but they now have a two-point advantage over the Italians having gone second in Group A.

Yet the margin between success and a Europa League consolation place remains slender as anything less than a win could leave them needing to beat Bayern Munich in their last game to go through.

Kompany said: “I think the biggest statement would be to qualify.

“We have finally got the campaign going and we feel the Champions League is something we can achieve good things in, just like the league.

“It was a good performance, very professional. We can move on from this.”

City’s dominance had more in common with their fine domestic form rather than their previous European outings this term.

While Roberto Mancini’s men have swept most before them in the Barclays Premier League, opening up a five-point lead in that competition, their lack of collective Champions League experience has hindered them in Europe.

But Kompany added: “I think our defensive performance, apart from the game in Bayern Munich, has not been too bad in the Champions League. Sometimes you are just unlucky to get a goal against.

“Here, a good performance throughout the whole game was rewarded. It is a difficult group but we had two games to win against Villarreal and we did it.

“Napoli away now will be unbelievable and I hope we will have a lot of supporters to see us. It will be a great game.”

City needed to play patiently throughout the opening half hour at El Madrigal as the injury-ravaged home side looked to deny them time on the ball. Yet, with slick passing, City were constantly able to probe away at the Villarreal defence and, once the outstanding David Silva had slipped Yaya Toure in for the opener, they took complete control.

Mario Balotelli, making his first appearance in the competition this season after suspension, doubled the lead from the penalty spot after having his ankles clipped by Mateo Musacchio.

Silva left the field in the second half with a back injury which Mancini later said was not serious before Samir Nasri and Balotelli combined to set up the third for Toure.

Toure said: “It is fantastic. It is the first time I have scored two goals in one game but the most important thing is the result.”